:bz The female figure has always been a huge inspiration for the great masters. Many timeless beauties have been created over time, each with their own unique qualities and characteristics. But when you look at the most famous paintings of women together, it becomes obvious that they all have one thing in common: each one depicts a woman with a full, voluptuous frame – not a size zero model in sight.

:bz Today, women all over the world are constantly dieting to try and achieve the ‘perfect’ figure. We perceive thin, lean women, such as catwalk models, to have the most beautiful bodies. So why is there such a huge discrepancy in the beauty perceived by artists and what we, ourselves, see in everyday life?

:bz Traditionally, women with a fuller figure were considered to be the absolute epitome of beauty. A voluptuous frame was an indicator of good health and fertility; the latter making them very desirable to men at the time. Thin, waif-like women, on the other hand, were thought of as extremely unattractive and symbolic of the lower classes: poor, ailing creatures who would be unable to bear children.

:bz This is still true in some cultures around the world who have a very different view of female beauty to Western society. This is especially true in developing countries where thin women are seen as emaciated instead of slender. Curves are celebrated instead of hidden and curvaceous women surrounded by children are still the subject of many works of art. Fertility and beauty are also still closely tied together in the art world, and plus sized women maintain their stance as the image of fruitfulness.